SAN JOSE — Goalkeeper David Bingham, who has started the past 70 games for the Earthquakes, has been added to the U.S. roster for the Americans’ World Cup qualifying showdown against Honduras, the team announced Thursday.

Bingham, 27, replaces starter Brad Guzan, who isn’t available because of personal reasons that don’t involve an injury.

“The last few days have been a whirlwind but I’m looking forward to helping the team in the upcoming qualifiers,” Bingham said through a Quakes spokesman. “We all know how important these matches are and to be able to represent your country in front of friends and family will be an exciting opportunity.”

The Americans have a crucial game next Friday at Avaya Stadium in the final round of World Cup qualifying out of the North and Central and Caribbean region known as CONCACAF. The United States is last after dropping the first two games of the hexagonal that cost former coach Jurgen Klinsmann his job.

The team arrives in San Jose on Sunday with Bruce Arena, who is starting his second tenure as U.S. coach. Arena called on another top Major League Soccer keeper to fill in for England-based Guzan. Bingham joins the Colorado Rapids’ Tim Howard and Real Salt Lake’s Nick Rimando, veterans of past World Cups.

Bingham is scheduled to play Saturday when the Quakes face Sporting Kansas City on the road as well as the team’s trip to New York City FC on April 1.

The former Cal star from Pleasanton is emerging as one of the country’s best. Bingham made the MLS All-Star team last year in a game played at Avaya. He ended the season tied for fourth in shutouts (eight), fifth for saves percentage (72.6) and sixth for saves (106). Since taking over as the Quakes’ keeper, Bingham has allowed 1.14 goals per game and recorded 21 shutouts — 16 at Avaya.

Being part of his first World Cup qualifying team should provide invaluable experience for a keeper who has made three international appearances in friendly competitions, including a 90-minute performance in a 1-0 victory over Canada last year.

Howard, 38, and Rimando, 37, are at the end of their careers. Bingham is part of a wave of young Americans ready to take a prominent role on the national team.

Arena chose Bingham over Belgium-based Ethan Horvath, 21, and Mexico-based William Yarbrough, 27, for the two qualifiers. The Americans play at Panama on March 28 as they try to climb the table to become one of top three regional qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Elliott Almond is a reporter for the Bay Area News Group who has covered 11 Olympics, follows soccer and writes about social issues in sports such as concussions. Almond previously worked at the Los Angeles Times and Seattle Times as an investigative sports reporter and has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize three times. An author of a book on surfing, Almond spent a good portion of his youth travelling the California and Baja California coastlines searching for the perfect wave. He now can be found among towering coast redwoods in remote NorCal forests.

SAN JOSE — It was a must-win game for the Earthquakes. The players knew it. The coaches knew it. The fans knew it. Danny Hoesen decided to do something about it. The Quakes came out hunting for an early goal against the Houston Dynamo. After a couple of close calls by Vako and Marco Urena that just missed the target,...

TORONTO — Against Major League Soccer’s league leaders, the San Jose Earthquakes appeared set on staying behind the ball in the hopes of bogging down Toronto FC. But like so many that have crossed the border and visited Toronto this season, the Earthquakes defensive approach wore thin and they now find their playoff hopes in further jeopardy after a crushing...